Multi-feed circular knitting machine



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 e o :v ,m//K o o sw E mw www, W s Nm.\\ Eozww HAM um. mh @w o Q W w mm. o o o M ,m C C C C. M y uw e mw 5 o o Jan. 5, 1960 M. H. FELKER MULTI-FEED CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed March 17. 195e mb m-- E m. M

Jan. 5, 1960 M. H. FELKER 2,919,556

MULTI-FEED CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed March 1'?. 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 AMULTI-FEED CIRCULAR KNITTING MAC l Maurice H. Felker, Lakeport, N.II., assgnor to Scott 8.' Williams, Incorporated, Laconia, N.H., a corporation of Massachusetts Application March 17, 1958, Serial No. 721,828

8 Claims. (Cl. 66-168) This invention relates to multi-feed circular knitting machines and more particularly, to an air cleaner for use on a multi-feed underwear or outerwear, i.e., body machine with stationary needle cylinder where yarn changes or yarn introduction and removal are desired. The invention will be shown and described in a multifeed stationary needle cylinder rib knitting machine. The invention is shown in a construction suitable for taking a yarn out of action, clamping and cutting it, subsequently re-introducing the yarn. The invention is equally useful when yarns are being changed. According to the invention, the lint which collects at the clamp and cutter is blown away. ln multi-feed rib or plain (Jersey) body machines having a stationary needle cylinder, there has been no convenient way to provide an air blast to blow away lint or yarn clippings from the clamp and cutter at each feed. Furthermore, it'is impractical to have each feed connected direct to the air supply with separate controls. In accordance with the present invention, the air supply cornes from a stationary compressed air means having a tube directed toward the revolving cam cylinder and unitary control means for the yarn feed units and said compressed air means controlled by the patterning means to provide an air blast only at times that the clamp and cutter are open. At each feed on the revolving cam ring a tube is provided having one end adjacent the clamp and cutter facing in a direction which 4will blow away the clippings and the other end remote from the clamp and cutter positioned to catch the air from the end of the stationary tube as the moving tube passes. By this means, when the remote end of the tube passes by the stationary tube `only a momentary blast of air is received to blow away the lint at each of the clamps and cutters. The invention is applicable to both rib and plain stationary needle cylinder machines.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is'aview, partly in section, through a stationary needle cylinder multi-feed rib body machine equipped with the new air cleaner, the section being taken through one edge of the dial and cylinder, showing only the left side of a typical yarn feed unit assembly air cleaner and the pattern chain control assembly, the cam finger for the yarn feed unit being shown in a neutral position.

Fig. 2 is another view in section through one edge of the dial and cylinder of the machine of Fig. l but showing only the opposite side of the yarn feed unit assembly from that of Fig. 1.

j Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the air valve and air supply of the invention associated withthe showing of Fig. l.A

. Fig. 4 is a view in elevation of the clamp and the cutter operating slides of the yarn feed assembly which are located on the side shown in Fig. 1, with the cover plate removed.

Fig. 5 is` a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the yarn nger operating slides of the yarn feed assembly located on the opposite side to that shown in Figs. 1 and 4,

namely, from the side of Fig. 2, with the cover plate removed.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the yarn feed unit assembly of Figs. 4 and 5.

Fig. 7 is a View in elevation of the base and mounting bracket of the yarn feed unit assembly looking radially inward as the parts are mounted on the machine.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged side view of the upper yarn linger operating slide of Fig. 5, showing the slide latch.

Fig. 9 is a View similar to Fig. 8 showing the slide associated with the slide of Fig. 8 and further details of the slide latching device.

1n the rib body machine in which the invention will be shown embodied there is a multiplicity of feeds. In body fabric stationary needle cylinder machines it has heretofore been impossible to provide a timed blast of air at a point, and in a direction, which is suitable to blow away lint by any air cleaner heretofore known. The construction by which this diiculty is overcome will now be set forth.

Referring now to the drawings, the machine has a bed 1 and a stationary needle cylinder 2 with independent needles 3 vertically movable therein, this cylinder being carried by the stationary bed 1 (see Fig. 1). Also carried on the stationary bed 1 is the usual rotatinggear ring 03 to which is bolted each of the cam ring sections 5. Fixed and movable cams for each knitting station such as the cam 97 are located on the inside face of the cam ring as usual (see Figs. 1 and 2). There is a mounting bracket 6 extending upwardly from each section of the cam ring 5. The bracket supports the yarn feed unit for that cam ring section and feed. Each mounting bracket 6 is bolted on its cam ring section 5 by screws 9.

There is the usual rib dial 1t? with associated independent needles 11. The dial is mounted on a stationary dial hub 12. There is an inner dial cap 13 above the dial and around the periphery of the inner cap the dial cap 14 is bolted in a conventional manner. The inner dial cap and dial cap are rotated by the gear ring 4 through dogs (not shown). Fixed and movable cams 102., 163 for each knitting station are located on the bottom of each dial cap section.

Chain control For the purpose of controlling the patterning of the fabric a chain control assembly is provided. This selects a cycle of operation controlling the necessary moves for knitting a complete fabric blank. This chain control assembly is indicated in Fig. 1. It is carried by a chain bracket 20 mounted on the bed 1 at the rear of the machine. This chain control assembly operates the yarn feeds and their manipulations and is driven by the gear ring 4 from a racking cam (not shown) to a rack wheel (not shown) located on the chain sprocket shaft 22. On this shaft 22 is a chain sprocket 21 which is racked around in timed relation to the revolutions of the cam ring and other revolving parts of the machine in a conventional manner.

The chain sprocket 21 advances a chain 23, the links on this chain being low operating height links 32, medium height or neutral links 33 and high operating links 34. These links are moved successively under a chain follower 25 which is pivotally carried on a shaft 27 fastened on the outer part of the chain bracket 20. It will be seen that the follower 25 raises and lowers a vertical rod 28 above it in accordance with the indication of the links 32, 33, 34, the rod-being mounted and guided by the chain bracket 20. Near the upper end of this vertical rod is a cam finger 29 fastened to a cam mounting block 30 by screws 31. The cam mounting block 30 is adjustably xed on the rod 2S. The vertical rod 28 is urged downwardly against thechain Yfollower 25 by a Vcompression spring 49 located on the rod in a conventional manner as shown in Fig. 1. An adjustable collar 50 provides the proper degree of compression of the spring between this collar and the usual lug on the bracket 2G. This cam finger 29 extends radially inward toward the center of the machine for the purpose o-f operating the slides in the yarn feed unit as hereinafter described. it will be seen that the heights of the links control the yarn feed means.

Also associated in a non-revoluble manner with the stationary bed 1 of the machine, at the same point circumferentially as the chain control assembly just described, is a stationary compressed air means and the unitary control means for it and the yarn feed units. These co-mprise the following parts. Fastened on the chain bracket 2t) approximately in line with the chain 23 is an air valve micro switch 35 connected in an electric circuit 41. This switch is carried on a small bracket 36 screwed to the chain bracket 2!) by a screw 37. The micro switch has a wiper blade 3S extending toward the links of the chain 23 but on the side of the chain away from the observer as viewed in Fig. l. In this figure a pin 39 is shown in a link 40 projecting laterally away from the observer and adapted to contact the wiper blade 38 when the pin passes the wiper blade. As viewed in Fig. 1 the chain moves in a counter-clockwise direction and the pin 39, wiping against the blade 38, will close the micro switch thereby completing the electrical circuit 41 shown in Figures 1 and 3. This activates a solenoid air valve 7 shown in Fig. 3 releasing air from :t compressed air supply 8 into a tube 139 mounted on a block 138 carried at the periphery of the stationary bed 1 of the machine. It will be obvious since the chain is racked every revolution of the machine, that the means so far described provide compressed air for any selected revolution of the machine throughout that revolution. The remainder of the air cleaner will be described in connection with the yarn feed unit of the machine.

Yarn feed :mit

The yarn feed unit proper is carried on an operating slide base 70 (see Figs. 1 and 7). This in turn is supported on the bracket 6. There may be a separate yarn feed unit at each knitting station or feed of the machine if desired. Some of the body yarns (not shown) are fed through yarn carriers (not shown) fastened to the dial cap sections and those body yarns knit continuously through the various pattern changes with which the present invention is concerned. This yarn feed unit not only operates any movable yarn lingers, such as yarn finger 85 shown in Fig. 2, but also the clamp and cutter assembly and any other elements such as any knitting cams which may be subject to manipulation when yarn changes are being made in the fabric. The clamp and cutter assemblies correspond in number with the yarn feed units.

Looking rst at what will be called the right side of the yarn feed unit as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, we see the parts concerned more directly with the movement of the movable yarn finger into and out of action. A yarn feed unit cover plate 71 shown in Fig. 2 has been removed in Fig. in order that the basic action of the yarn finger slides may be more visible. There are two slides 72 and 73 with a small gear 74 between them meshing with racks 69 in the adjacent sides of the slides as shown in Fig. 5. The two slides both extend from the yarn feed unit at the radially outward end of the unit in the knitting machine while the yarn finger 85 pivoted on the screw 86 on the base 70 is at the inner end of the unit near the hooks of the dial and cylinder needles 3 and 11. The upper slide 72, when pushed in, causes the lower slide 73 to be pushed out as can be seen by inspection of Fig. 5. Located beside the upper slide 72, as shown in Fig. 6, is a latch slide 75 also shown in Fig. 9. The latch slide 75 is slidably supported in a bracket 76 that is attached to the operating slide base 70 by screws 77 and 78 (see Fig. 6). Located just above these two slides 72 and 75 is a latch 79 pivotally carried by screw 82 in base 70 and urged downwardly by a fiat spring 83 as shown in Fig. 6, this spring being held on the base 70 by a screw 84. There is a notch 81 in the upper edge of the slide 72 and a recess 80 in the upper edge of the slide 75. The recess and notch are so located that the latch 79 can rest in them both simultaneously at certain times. However, while the notch 81 in the slide 72 has vertical ends and therefore holds the slide 72 against longitudinal movement as long as the latch 79 is in the notch, the recess 80 in the slide 75 has bevelled ends so that when the slide 75 moves longitudinally the latch 79 is raised. It will be noted from Fig. 6 that the slide 75 extends outwardly, i.e., in the direction of the cam linger 29 on the chain bracket 29, further than slide 72. When the cam linger 29 is raised by a high operatiny link 34 to its high acting position, the cam linger 29 will rst contact the latch slide 75 and push it in a little. This movement of the latch slide 75 cams the latch 79 upwardly which unlocks the upper slide 72 by clearing the latch from the notch 81. Thereafter the cam linger 29 pushes unlocked upper slide 72 in toward the center of the machine and this has the effect of moving the yarn finger 85 out of action by mechanism which will now be described.

The yarn finger 35 is driven, i.e., moved from feeding to retracted position and vice versa, by a pin 87 projecting laterally from the upper slide 72 (see Figs. 2 and 8). As the slide 72 is moved radially inward, i.e., when the slide is pushed by cam finger 29, the pin 87 operating in a slot 66 in the finger S5 pivots that finger about the screw 86 so as to raise the iinger out of action. The yarn in the yarn finger 85 is an auxiliary yarn and is controlled independently of the body yarns. The slides 72, 75 also perform functions in connection with the knitting cams which actuate the needles.

When the cam linger 29 is moved to its low active position by the follower 25 dropping down on low link 32, the lower slide 73 will be pushed in (see Fig. 5). The rack 69 on the teeth on the upper edge of the lower slide 73 acting through a small gear 74 and engaging similar rack teeth 69 on the lower edge of the upper slide 72 will cause the upper slide to move to its outermost position. This occurs at the same time that the yarn finger returns to active position and begins to deliver yarn to the needles again. For the purpose of ensuring that the upper slide remains in its outermost position and thus keeps the yarn finger 85 in its active position, the construction of slide 75 shown in Fig. 9 is employed. There is a pin 88 projecting laterally from upper slide 72 at a point removed about one-third of the length of the slide from the pin 87 (see Figs. 2 and 8). This pin extends into and through an elongated slot 67 at the rear or inner end of the latch slide 75. Associated with this pin in line with the slide 75 is a compression spring 109 (see Fig. 9) which is under compression against this pin 88. Movement of the upper slide 72 to its outermost position as a result of the lower slide 73 having been pushed in by finger 29, causes the pin 88 in slide 72 to compress the spring 109 and thereby cause slide 75 to be pushed out to its outermost position. This results in the alignment of notch 81 in slide 72 and the recess 80 in slide 75 to allow the latch 79 to snap down into position in notch 81 and thus lock upper slide 72 in its outermost or extended position.

Turning now to the left side of the yarn feed unit shown in Figs. l and 4, when the coverplate is removed it will be seen that there are two slides 121, 122. These slides are concerned with the yarn clamp and cutter assembly. When the cam finger 29 is raised to its high operating position by the rod 28, because the chain follower 25 is on the high operating chain link 34, the finger 29 is opposite the upper slide 121 and will push that fopen vthe yarn clamp and cutter.

slide in as the feed comes opposite the finger. As can be seen in Fig. 4, this upper slide 121 has rack teeth 68 on its lower edge engaging a small gear 123 which on its lower edge engages similar rack teeth 68 on the upper edge of the lower slide 122. Since the lower slide 122 `projects Voutwardly from the yarn feed unit on the .tened to the base 70 by screws 133 (see Figs. l and 6).

Supported by this blade support 130, with the assistance of spring-mounted studs 134, are the clamp blade 131 --and a cutter blade `132 located respectively on opposite sides of the lower or clamp slide 122. These springmounted studs serve to maintain effective contact between vthe clamp blade 131, the clamp slide 122 and the cutter blade 132. The clamp blade 131 and the cutter blade 132y have horizontal slot openings 135 of similar shape which can be seen in Fig. 1. However, the lower or clamp slide 122 does not have such an opening. When the clamp slide 122 is retracted into the body of the yarn feed unit 70, as above described, the yarn clamp ,and cutter therefore is opened. Thus the action of the cam finger 29 pushing in the upper slide 121 serves to In connection with closing the yarn clamp and cutter a tension spring 124 is provided attached to apost 125 in the cover plate 120 and hooked to a post 126 at the back end of clamp slide A122 (see Fig. 1).

An'adjustable stop plate 127 held by screws 128 and 129 is provided on the left side coverplate 120 to limit the outward movement of the clamp slide 122 under the influence of this spring by virtue of the slide contacting with post. 126 (see. Fig. l). It will be seen that as soon 'as the cam linger 29 passes out of contact with the upper lcutter blade 132 and clamp slide 122. Thus these two slides operate only when the clamp receives yarn at the time that yarn finger 85 is raised out of action. These slides remain shut when yarn finger 85 is lowered and yarnis again fed to the needles.

i It willv be seen that the position of the cam finger 29 controls the change of auxiliary yarns and also the operation of the clamp and cutter.

Lint blower We have heretofore described the presence on the stationary bed 1 of the machine of the block 138 containing avcompressed air tube 139 coming from the compressed air supply 7 and the solenoid air valve 6 of Fig. 3. This block 138 and tube 139 are part of the stationary compressed air means adapted to blow a continuous stream of air toward the feed units. Projectz'ng upwardly from this stationary block 138 and located inside the chain bracket 20 is a stationary air tube 136 shaped to direct air radially inwardly on to the yarn feed units. This tube can be seen in Fig. l. This tube is part of the compressed air means. lt has a tube end facing toward and adapted to register with the remote ends of revolving tubes 140 hereinafter described.

As already explained, the chain 23 racked around by the revolution of the gear ring 4 causes the compressed air supply and the air valve to release a stream of air only when a high chain link 34 is underneath the chain follower 25. At this time a link 40 carrying the pin 39 contacts the switch wiper blade 38 of the micro switch 35 and closes the circuit 41. This actuates the air valve '7.

As already explained, lit is desired to have only a momentary blast of air to blow away the lint and to have that blast occur at a point closely adjacent to the yarn clamp and cutter at the inner end of each yarn feed unit. Therefore an air tube 140 has been devised fastened on the left side of the yarn feed unit base 70 by clamps 141 and screws 129 and 142. The outlet or inner end of this tube 140 is positioned just above the openings 135 in the clamp 131 and the cutter blade 132. This tube is adapted to blow air into the openings 135 and thus blow lint and broken ends of yarn out of the clamp and cutter. By appropriate bends, the tube is carried to a point at the outer end of the yarn feed unit where it is at a different horizontal level or plane from the inner end of the tube. Furthermore, it will be noted that the direction of the blast at the inner end can be at any desired angle. The outer end of this moving tube is remote from the inner end and is so positioned as to receive the blast of air coming from the stationary air tube 136 when the two are momentarily opposite each other. The remote end of the tube 140, namely-the one adjacent the stationary air tube 136, can be bellmouthed or widened in shape if desired. 1t will be noted that the yarn feed unit being mounted on camv ring 5 is revolving around the machine. For this reason the tubeof any given yarn feed unit will be opposite the stationary tube 136 for a moment and there will be a plurality of effective, momentary or short blasts per revolution ofthe machine, one into each of the clamps and cutters just at the moment when the lint at that clamp and cutter is to be blown away and no longer. However, the remote end being out of the plane of the clamp and cutter, any air not put in the revolving tube 140 will not be felt at the knitting point. Thus, without any special valves or complicated mechanism a short puff has been provided at each yarn feed cutter and clamp at just the right time in the desired position in the desired direction without any complicated control mechanism. This cooperation with the nonrevoluble mechanism associated wtih the control chain 23 and the 4non-revoluble mechanism of Fig. 3 ensures that the blast will occur at the right time and in the right place, with regard to the opening of the clamp and cutter. Thus, the momentary blast is obtained at each clamp and cutter at such time that, if that particular clamp and cutter are to be opened at that time, the blast will arrive while they are open.

Assuming that the machine is to take the yarn in yarn finger S5 out of action, the revolution of the rotating gear ring 4- has racked the chain 23 around until the chain follower 25 rides up a high chain link 34. This sets two trains in operation-that controlled by the cam finger 29 and that controlled by the micro switch 35. The high chain link 34 raises the cam finger 29 into the path of slides 75, '72 and 121. Pushing in slide 75 frees slide 72 from latch 79 and pin 87 pivots yarn finger 85 about screw 86 and raises it out of action as slide 72 is pushed in. This leaves lower slide 73 in outward position.

As carri finger 29 reaches slide 121 and pushes it in, clamp slide 122 is retracted by the gear 123 leaving the openings 135 in clamp and cutter blades 131 and 132 free to receive the end of the yarn from the yarn finger $5. This movement of slide 122 tensions spring 124 and as soon as the cam finger 29 clears the slide 121 the spring 124 snaps the pin 126 and slide 122 back to the outward position clamping and cutting the yarn between slide 122 and blades 131 and 132. This resets slide 121 in its outward position.

In the meantime the wiper blade 38 of the micro switch 35 has been contacted by pin 39 closing the electrical circuit 41 and thereby opening solenoid valve 7. This produces a continuous blast of air from the stationary tube 136. As the remote or outer end of the tube 140 on the yarn feed unit cornes opposite the stationary tube, a momentary blast is produced downwardly on the clamp and cutter blowing the lint away. After each of the yarn feed units have passed and received their blast, the chain 23 will be racked ahead, the micro switch opened and the continuous blast from stationary tube 136 stopped. In due course, when the yarn finger 85 is to come into action again, a low link 32 will come under the chain follower 25 dropping the cam nger 29 to a level where it will push in slide 73. This will project slide 12. The projection of slide '72 tensions spring 109 in slide 75 and that slide is projected latching slide 72 in its outward position by allowing the latch 79 to drop into notch 81. Thus the yarn finger is once again locked in its feeding position.

What is claimed is:

1. A multi-feed circular knitting machine having a stationary needle cylinder, independent needles in the cylinder, a revoluble cam ring, and a multiplicity of yarn feed units carried by the ring, in combination with a yarn clamp and cutter assembly revolving with each feed unit, a stationary compressed air means adapted to blow a continuous stream of air toward the feed units as they pass the stationary means, a unitary control means for the yarn feed units and said compressed air means adapted to permit the continuous stream of air when yarns are being changed; and a tube on each yarn feed unit positioned to catch only a momentary blast of air as it passes the stationary compressed air means and transmit it to the clamp and cutter assembly to blow away lint.

2. A multi-feed circular knitting machine according to claim 1 also having a stationary dial, independent needles therein, and a revoluble dial cam cap, in which the yarn feed units and clamp and cutter assemblies are carried by the revolving cam ring, there being a pattern chain in the unitary control means, links of different height in the chain, means controlled by the height of the links to `cause yarn changes and pins on the links to initiate operation or said stationary compressed air means.

3. A multi-feed circular knitting machine having stationary needle cylinder and dial, independent needles in the cylinder and the dial, a revoluble cam ring for a multiplicity of feeds for the needles in those two elements, and yarn feed units revolving with the cam ring, in combination with a cutter and clamp assembly with each yarn feed unit, a tube on each assembly to guide a stream of air to the cutter and clamp, stationary compressed air means adapted to blow air into any yarn feed tube opposite it, and control means for said stationary compressed air means adapted to permit blowing by the stationary means only when a yarn is being taken out of action; whereby momentary blasts of air are received at each clamp and cutter only when yarn is being taken out of action.

4. A multi-feed circular rib knitting machine having stationary needle cylinder and dial, independent needles in the cylinder and dial, revoluble cam ring and cap for the cylinder and dial, each adapted to cause knitting at a multiplicity of feeds on 'each revolution of the machine, a yarn feed unit with cutter and clamp for each such feed, and a tube revolving with each cutter and clamp adapted to blow lint away, one end of the tube being adjacent the cutter and clamp and the other remote therefrom, in combination with stationary compressed air means so located as to blow air into the remote end of each revolving air tube as it passes; whereby a momentary blast at each cutter and clamp is obtained from a continuous blast from the stationary compressed air means.

5. A multi-feed circular rib knitting machine according to claim 4 in which each revolving tube is so bent that its remote end is out of the plane of the clamp and cutter thereby avoiding any air blast not in the revolving tube being felt at the knitting point.

6. A multi-feed circular rib knitting machine according to claim 4 in which the tube end adjacent the cutter and clamp faces in a dierent direction from the air blown by the stationary compressed air means.

7. A multi-feed circular rib knitting machine according to claim 4 in which ythe stationary compressed air means has a tube end facing toward and adapted to register successively with the remote ends of each revolving tube as it passes the stationary tube end, said remote ends being near the periphery of the yarn feed units.

8. A multi-feed circular rib knitting machine according to claim 4 in which there is a unitary control means for all the yarn feed units and the stationary compressed air means adapted to permit said latter to emit a continuous stream of air only when yarns are being taken out of action; whereby a momentary blast is obtained at each clamp and cutter at such time that, if the clamp and cutter are to be opened, the blast will arrive while they are open.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 966,707 Rogginger Aug. 9, 1910 1,711,429 Senn Apr. 30, 1929 1,752,207 Seifert Mar. 25, 1930 2,298,475 Fechheimer Oct. 13, 1942 2,325,023 Allred July 27, 1943 2,357,714 Vossen et al. Sept. 5, 1944 2,422,514 Allen June 17, 1947 2,522,183 Lawson Sept. 12, 1950 2,658,366 Shelmire Nov. 10, 1953 2,846,860 Shortland Aug. 12, 1958 

